Over the recent time Alyaksandr Lukashenka and high-ranking Belarusian officials are more and more often stating the necessity of preserving and reinforcing the sovereignty of Belarus. “I am convinced that in the nearest future realization of the state program on promotion on European values and of the idea of joining the EU would start. Alyaksandr Lukashenka has stated right that “structurally Belarus is ready to join the EU”. The matter depends on a little thing, to give up on dictatorial political system and restore democracy in the country. Today it doesn’t seem so impossible,” the Charter’97 coordinator Zmitser Bandarenka believes.
- Zmitser, how would you comment on such a sharp turn in the Belarusian official policy?
- Life has forced them to change the rhetoric. Putin’s refusal to continue financing “Lukashenka’s economic miracle” has placed the Belarusian rulers in a very complex situation. In fact Russia demands to give it leading Belarusian enterprises to repay energy resources. The official Minsk cannot pay even for ongoing deliveries of gas. 625 million dollars have been paid for Beltransgaz shares. The debt to Gazprom in the first half a year was 400 million dollars. And it hardly would be less in the second half a year. The situation in oil sphere is even worse. Lukashenka hopes to get credits in European banks, and he needs to change his image for a democratic and European one for that. Today the EU insists on fulfilling 12 requirements of democratic reform and requires starting a real dialogue with opposition. In return not only opening of credit lines, but real investment and assistance which can reach several billions Euro are offered. Meanwhile all efforts of the Belarusian Foreign Ministry and Lukashenka’s administration are hurled into playing a double game with Europeans.
- On July 3 an official Independence Day, or Day of Liberation of Minsk from the Nazi invaders was celebrated in Belarus widely. You were one of the oppositional politicians who called upon the Belarusians to celebrate this date in a proper way…
- I am a Minsk dweller, and as long as I remember myself, July 3 has always been a holiday in Minsk. In general, celebrations this year under a slogan “For independent Belarus!” could be assessed really positively. People who have come to power with an idea of restoring the Soviet Union, in 12 years have come to understand the value of Independence. In many cities of Belarus more than 200 concerts have been carried out in support of sovereignty of the country. This campaign could have been too pompous, but for the first time dozens of millions dollars were used not for propaganda of a mythical “union state”, but on reinforcement of patriotism. That is why thousands of opposition activists have taken part in celebrations on Minsk Liberation day.
- For half a year “democratization” of Belarus has been carried out only in word. Do you find democratization in practice possible?
- The regime faces a really historic choice: to give key enterprises to Russia and lose not only economic, but the political sovereignty as well; or to start democratization and establish really beneficial relations with Europe. As usual, Lukashenka is trying to go his own way, to borrow money and do nothing. Our aim is to help him make the right choice.
I am convinced that in the nearest future realization of the state program on promotion of European values and of the idea of joining the EU would start. Alyaksandr Lukashenka has stated right that “structurally Belarus is ready to join the EU”. The matter depends on a little thing, to give up on dictatorial political system and restore democracy in the country. Today it doesn’t seem so impossible
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